Design of Distribution Pipes

for Fire Protection

Roy V. Santiago, PICE, PSPE, A.ASEP

July 27, 2013
WATERFRONT HOTEL RESORT &
CASINO
Lahug, Cebu City
 The Fire Code of the Philippines
was Repealed in 2008
• PD 1185 was repealed by RA 9514 or the
Comprehensive Fire Code of the Philippines which
took effect on 11.18.09
• One of the developments in the new Fire Code is the
provision for urban and rural pre-fire planning (Rule
X, Chapter 5, Div. 7, p.426).
• This provision requires the project developers and
housing development owners to provide a hydrant
system and adequate water supply for fire
suppression use.
 Requirements for Developers and
Owners of Housing Projects
Section 10.5.7.1 of the revised Fire Code of the
Philippines
a. Project developers or owners of housing projects
shall provide a hydrant system and develop the
source of water used for the purpose of providing
adequate water supply for fire suppression use on
both economic and socialized housing in connection
with this Code.
c. All reservoirs or water tanks must provide a 20% fire
reserve over and above the Average Daily Demand
Supply
 Things to be Considered by Developers or Owners of
Housing Projects

• Is the 20% fire reserve over and above the

average daily demand supply adequate for fire
suppression use? How much is the minimum fire
flow required?
• Water supply for hydrant system can consist of
reservoirs, pressure tanks, elevated tanks or
other fixed or mobile water supply capable of
providing the required fire flow.
• In many rural areas, the most common source of
domestic water supply is water well and elevated
tank or reservoir.
 What is the Required Fire Flow?

Provisions in the National Fire Protection

Association (NFPA)
• For municipal-type water system, the minimum
fire flow must be 250 gpm at a pressure of 20 psi
for a 2-hour duration.
• NFPA 1142, Annex G.4 provides the formula in
calculating the required fire flow for building and
occupancy to be protected in rural areas.
FF = Ci Oi Xi Pi
Ci – Construction factor, Oi –Occupancy
factor
X –Exposure, P – Communication factor
 Things to be Considered by Developers or Owners of
Housing Projects

• Elevated water tanks should have a capacity of at least 25

gal (94.6L) of water per person served
• Elevated water tanks should be high enough to produce
the needed pressure at the farthest outlet (e.g., hydrant )

The volume provided in elevated tank is usually just 1/6 of average domestic demand
per capita per day. Based on a 12-hour consumption, the motor pump is expected to
pump up water at least 3 times during day time to refill the tank.
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
• Given:
- 300 units low-cost housing
- Average occupant of 5 persons per unit
- Farthest hydrant is 250m from tank location
- Topography is generally flat
• Required:
A. Size of tank with minimum fire flow reserve
B. Determine its elevation from the ground
C. Size of down feed riser and distribution pipes
for fire protection
D. Draw tank showing position of down feed
risers to meet the 2-hour fire flow reserve
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
A. Size the Tank

Volume = Domestic supply plus fire flow

reserve

1. Domestic Supply = 25 gal/person x 1500

person
Domestic Supply = 37,500 gal

2. Minimum Fire Flow (FF) reserve

FF = 250 gal/min x 120min = 30,000 gal
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
A. Size the Tank (Cylindrical)
Volume = 67,500 gal
Volume = 67,500gal x 0.003784m3/gal =
255.4 m3
V = Area x Height of Tank (Cylindrical)
V = ( /4) x D2 x H,
solving for H, (assume 7.5m diameter)
H = V / [ /4 x D2 ]
Substitute the values and solve for H:
H = 255.4 m3 / [3.1416/4 x 7.52] m2
H = 5.8m say 6m
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
B. Determine the tank’s elevation from ground
1. Minimum pressure of hydrant 250m away
from tank (Pmin = 140 Kpa)
P= h
solving for h,
h = P / = 140 KN/m2 / 9.81 KN/m3
h = 14.27m

2. Elevation of hydrant outlet

Hh = 0.8 m (from ground)
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
B. Determine the tank’s elevation from
ground

3. Head loss for 250m distribution pipe

(assume 3m head loss per 304.88m pipe,
typical for water supply system)

hf = 3m/304.88m x 250m = 2.46m

4. Elevation of tank’s bottom (1 + 2 + 3)

Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
5. Draw the tank to show its dimensions and
elevation
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
C. Size the down-feed riser and distribution pipe for
fire protection

1. Minimum Fire Flow at Hydrant

Fire Flow = 250 gpm (0.55 cu.ft per sec)
2. Head Loss = 2.46m (8 feet)
3. Using Hazen-William Nomogram solution, for
G.I pipe, C =120, for pipes flowing full, we find
the diameter of pipe;
D = 5.7 inches say 6 inches (150mm)
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
• Nomograph for Hazen-William Equation, C =
120
Size of pipe:
5.7” SAY 6”
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
D. Draw the plan showing down feed risers to meet
the 2-hour fire flow reserve

1. The volume of water required to supply 250

gpm in 2-hours at 20psi = 30,000 gal
(113.5m3)
2. V = A x h
V = ∏/4 x D2 x h, solving for h
h = V / [∏/4 x D2 ], substitute values
h = 113.5 / [ 0.7854 x 7.52 ]
h = 2.5m
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
D. Draw the plan showing down feed risers to meet
the 2-hour fire flow reserve
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
Other safety features of elevated tanks
(Excerpt from the Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines)
• Elevated water tank should be tightly covered to
keep out unauthorized person, dirt and vermin
• The cover should be vented with return-bend vent
having an area not less than the area of down-feed
riser, and properly screened.
• Inlets to tank shall be controlled by a float valve, float
switch or electro-type water level control to prevent
overflow
• Elevated tank shall be provided with a valved drain
pipe and an overflow pipe screened as the vent pipe
Design of Distribution Pipe for Fire
Protection
Typical Elevated Tank
End of Presentation
Thank You!